Varicose Veins

Enjoy your legs again!Do your legs ache? Do you have bulging veins? Are you concerned with the unsightly appearance of spider veins?

Image North offers comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of varicose and spider veins in a spa-like atmosphere of our office. If you have any of the symptoms of varicose or spider, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

Varicose VeinsHealthy leg veins bring blood in the legs back up to the heart against the force of gravity. Veins have valves that open to allow upward movement of blood flow and then snap shut to prevent backward flow. If these valves become faulty and do not close properly, the blood flows in the wrong direction and the vein distends to allow for the pooling of blood (similar to filling a balloon with water). This distention can be subtle or it can result in bulging rope-like varicose veins.

Many patients present to our office with severe symptoms including pain, swelling, itching, burning, spider veins, ulcers, a feeling of heaviness, restless legs, cramping, and throbbing, but do not demonstrate any physical findings (no spider veins or bulging veins). If you experience any of these symptoms or spider or bulging, rope-like veins, it is very important to schedule a consultation to determine the best treatment to alleviate your symptoms.

At Visconti Imaging & Vein, we offer a variety of state-of-the-art vein treatments to ensure you have the best outcome.

Endovenous LasersEndovenous ablation is the preferred method of treatment for varicose veins. This minimally invasive procedure is performed in our office in less than an hour. During the procedure, a small needle incision is made in the leg and a laser fiber is inserted into the varicose vein (veins are without nerve endings; patients will not feel this). Using ultrasound guidance, the laser fiber is positioned within the vein. Once the laser is activated, the energy gently heats and safely closes the vein. Once the vein is closed, the blood that was circulating through the diseased vein is simply rerouted to other healthy veins. Treated veins will eventually diminish over time.

Visconti Imaging & Vein utilizes the CoolTouch CTEV laser because it is the most comfortable laser technology available. This laser uses a higher wavelength than other lasers, requiring less heat to close the vein. You are awake during the procedure and will feel very little pain, as your leg will be locally anesthetized. After the procedure, your leg will be wrapped in a compression bandage and you will be up and walking the same day. You will need to wear your stockings for 7-10 days, unless otherwise instructed by our healthcare provider. You will be able to resume light routine activities the next day and strenuous activities within a few weeks. Your symptoms will begin to improve within 1-2 weeks after your procedure.

PhlebectomyAn ambulatory phebectomy is often performed in conjunction with other forms of treatment. Many patients associate an ambulatory phlebectomy with vein stripping, however, these two procedures are very different. Vein stripping is performed under general anesthetic. During the procedure, the entire vein is pulled out of the body through an incision. Not only are stitches required, but patients also face weeks of downtime. In contrast, an ambulatory phlebectomy is a simple office-based procedure where a very small incision is made and small portions of the diseased vein are removed. By simply removing small segments of the vein, the body will re-direct blood flow and the remnants will be reabsorbed by the body over time. The quantity of incisions will vary depending on the severity of your varicose veins, but you will not require any stitches. After the procedure, steri-strips will be applied and your leg will be wrapped in a compression stocking. You will need to wear your stockings for 7-10 days, unless otherwise instructed by our healthcare provider. You will be able to resume light routine activities the next day and strenuous activities within a few weeks.

SclerotherapySclerotherapy can be used to close tortuous veins and to minimize the appearance of spider veins. During the procedure, an FDA-approved sclerosant called Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (STS) is injected into the vein. This causes an irritation to the inner lining of the vein resulting in closure of the vein. After the procedure, a compression dressing will be applied to the site. You will be required to wear compression stockings for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, you need to wear the stocking during the day for the next 7-10 days, unless specified otherwise by your provider. The number of treatments needed differs from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the problem.

Once you have completed treatment of your varicose veins, Dr Visconti can address your spider veins for cosmetic purposes.